Customer Reviews

Bodies of Water

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Though I must admit that I was one of the skeptical ones about how much I could enjoy this book, Rosie surprised me with her gift for writing that extends beyond her music. The book is short; only 133 pages long and contains nine shorts written about life, from a woman's point of view. My personal favorites are "The Arc of Lonliness," "Bodies of Water," "A Week At The Gore," and "Dinner." The other reviews go a little deeper into what the stories are about, so at the risk of not being repetitive, I won't go nto that. I'll only say that if you get a chance to track down a copy of this book, do not miss out. I am now seeking out her second collection!

It is true that in her first book of short stories, Rosanne Cash writes about the experiences of women...childbirth, relationships, the passage of time. However, I find it interesting that reviewers write with praise about the "stories of womanhood" in such a cliched and politically correct choice of words, and yet suggest that some of stories are "show-biz confessions". "The Dinner" is praised as the one of the stongest stories, yet I find that although it may be cleverly written, it is self-conscious and somewhat stiff. Her most eloquent and exquisite stories, by far, are born when she dares to reach deep, deep down and write with heartbreaking beauty about the spirit and soul of childhood, the fine line we all walk between "normal" and "insane" (though we are so busy not wanting to admit it), and not only the true bond so obviously present with her own daughters, but to that creature most of us have lost touch with, the innocent, the wounded one, the Deity. For me, "Shelly's Voices" is one of the strongest pieces, simply because it is the most naked, the least "consciously writerish". In that series of tableaux, Cash touches upon the truth of everything, she touches the truth about the deepest wound of all, our brutal separation from our natural sense of entitlement to love and safety, and the consequences we suffer as a result of that. Although there are many other sensitive and lovely moments in the book, and some amusing ones, and some wise ones, "Shelly's Voices" alone is worth the price...the full price. Too bad to see this book reduced to the 97 cent bin...

This book proves that Roseanne Cash is not only a prolific songwriter, but also a gifted writer. She gives the reader brief glimpses into the lives of everyday women with depth, insight, and feeling. The stories are timeless and since purchasing this collection several years ago, I have re read more than once and they are always fresh. Women are presented as strong and capable and knowing. I look forward to Roseanne Cash writing another collection.